Short Story Review: Three Stories

I wanted to round out the typical Thanksgiving festivities with themed reading, so I got an e-copy of The Killer Wore Cranberry - A Fifth Course of Chaos. The first story in the anthology, Chicken Little by Barbara Metzger, features Chuck, a private detective with Walter Mitty tendencies. He imagines himself as a hard-boiled detective. It appears from the start that he often gets things wrong, so will he be able to solve the mystery? (Language alert for my readers - there are a few f-bombs.)

Each story in the anthology must include Thanksgiving and cranberries. I look forward to reading more as we approach the holiday. 

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Susan Oleksiw - A Slight Deviation from the Mean - Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine November / December 2017

How does an expat American mathematician wind up a homeless nun in India? Oleksiw reveals part of Shanti's story, at least as it relates to a mystery in A Slight Deviation from the Mean. Anita Ray hires Shanti to clean rooms at her small Hotel Delite, against the wishes of her Auntie Meena. Shanti is a holy woman, and Meena thinks the housecleaning job would be demeaning for the woman. Quite the contrary. Shanti has been expelled by her guru. She is barely making her very modest ends meet.

An interesting ethical dilemma is revealed after Shanti begins working for Anita. I was pleasantly surprised by the resolution of the story. 

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​Joseph D'Agnese - Her Father's Killer - Mystery Weekly Magazine November 2017

D'Agnese creates a compelling tale in the 2,000 word range. Setting, characters, and plot unfold at a rapid pace. Priscilla Mae Gregson has returned to her small home town for her father's funeral. When she sees his body, she suspects he was murdered, and sets out to enact revenge.

I enjoyed reading three stories in three different venues. Each had a different tone and setting. That's the fun in reading short. You can sample a variety of writing styles and genres without making a novel-length commitment.

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